ATHENS, Alabama - An organization was founded this week to assist residents affected by Monday night's violent storm that killed a mother and son and damaged numerous homes and businesses across north Alabama.

Athens City Councilman Chris Seibert.

Athens City Councilman Chris Seibert and his wife, Tiffany, announced today the launch of North Alabama United, a group that is collecting donations for displaced tornado victims in Limestone, Madison and Lauderdale counties.

"This is a difficult time and yesterday we saw firsthand the devastation," he said. "Tiffany was serving food at Blue Springs Elementary and I was helping to clear debris. People and local businesses started asking us if we knew what they could do to help those in need. When we got home, we just could not shake the feeling that we needed to do more."

To donate to the fund, contact the Seibert family directly at 256-233-7602 or visit NorthAlabamaUnited.com. Seibert, who said tax-exempt status is being applied for, noted donors should make checks payable to North Alabama United.

In a statement, Seibert said north Alabama has once again been "shaken to its core."

"The people of north Alabama always unite when we experience a natural disaster, county lines disappear," he said. "There are so many families that have been left with nothing and we wanted to help give them the resources to try to put the pieces back together."